Asian irrigation upgrade a $bn opportunity

Some 20 years ago, the blog launched ICI Watercare – which became the largest water treatment business in the chemical industry. So it has kept a close eye on opportunities in the water industry ever since.

The weak monsoon season in India highlights one such opportunity. As a new report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) notes, Asia’s vast irrigation systems were built 40 years ago, at the time of the ‘Green Revolution’.

It says they have become “underused, poorly maintained and inefficient“, and calls for major investment to finance their modernisation.

This is clearly a multi-billion dollar opportunity for the chemical industry. Such investment will not only require polymers, sealants and other products for the irrigation systems themselves. It is also an opportunity to provide much-needed expertise, to ensure the rebuilt infrastructure operates more efficiently in the future.

About Paul Hodges

Paul Hodges is Chairman of International eChem, trusted commercial advisers to the global chemical industry. Paul is also an invited member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council. The aim of this blog is to share ideas about the influences that may shape the chemical industry over the next 12 – 18 months. It will try to look behind today’s headlines, to understand what may happen next in important issues such oil prices, economic growth and the environment. We may also have some fun, investigating a few of the more offbeat events that take place from time to time. Please do join me and share your thoughts. Between us, we will hopefully develop useful insights into the key factors that will drive the industry's future performance.

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Paul Hodges is Chairman of International eChem, trusted commercial advisers to the global chemical industry.

The aim of this blog is to share ideas about the influences that may shape the chemical industry over the next 12 – 18 months. It will try to look behind today’s headlines, to understand what may happen next in important issues such oil prices, economic growth and the environment. We may also have some fun, investigating a few of the more offbeat events that take place from time to time. Please do join me and share your thoughts.

Between us, we will hopefully develop useful insights into the key factors that will drive the industry's future performance.